What are/were the best sounding cheap components you have ever had?

My first Rega with a wooden base and an S-shaped arm, NAD 3140, and Allison Threes(the corner models).  When properly placed, the Allison's performed well above their paygrade.  Also my very first CD player; an early Magnavox/Philips built in Belgium and modified by one of Steve McCormack's early ventures, "The Mod Squad".  It died twenty years ago but recently I ran across an original un modified unit that looks like it was preserved in a time capsule since brand new.  Nearly bought tears to my eyes, I had to own it.   

https://imgur.com/mcnlNfc

https://imgur.com/zosIlPW

https://imgur.com/Ld9cvCS

’less costly’ tubes sounded better

My used Cayin amp had a pair of 6sn7 and pair of 6sl7, Cayin branded, no maker’s id, absolutely identical looking, but numbers were marked

Tested em all, incl power tubes. With my great experience I put two in wrong sockets and blew a 6sl7.

Put a used GE from stock, sounded great. 

Ordered matched pair Sylvania Military grade, cool looking chrome tops (wanted visibly different, so smart) They did NOT sound good.

Brent Jesse had me first break them in 60 hrs, still didn’t like them, he gave me full credit, I tried some GE, half the price, sound great.

Oh Happy Day!

Bose VCS-10 Center Channel Speaker, small, inexpensive

Only small fit, and it did not cost much, around $100. new. Surprisingly Good Sound

here’s one

New arrangement, bit more room replaced it with a Klipsch

Norh le amp monoblocks $400.I still have them.

Gifts, yard sales, inheritances, not the same as buying 'less costly' new and it sounded great.

Then there is unintended LUCK.

I needed a front loading TT for the Garage Shop system to stack stuff, keep dual cassette in for nostalgia and home made tapes. Sony PS FL-1, P mount.

I planned on getting it, converting the P mount with a 1/2" adapter so I could buy a better advanced stylus cartridge for it.

Darn thing arrived with a P Mount Shibata! AT 485U (didn't know they made them).

got what I wanted by pure luck

most similar I can find is this modified version, AT body, bonded shibata tip